113 killed in car crashes in Turkey during Eid al-Adha

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

CİHAN photo

A total of 113 people were killed in car crashes across Turkey during the nine-day Eid al-Adha holiday as hundreds of thousands of citizens who travelled to their hometowns to spend the holiday began to return amid intensifying traffic.

A total of 113 people were killed while 545 were wounded in 132 accidents by the third official day of the holiday, Sept. 26, although many people took nine days off for the holiday, starting on Sept. 19.

On Sept. 19, 13 were killed and 38 were wounded in 13 crashes. On Sept. 20, 21 were killed and 56 were wounded in 27 crashes. On Sept. 21, nine people were killed and 105 were wounded in 24 crashes. On Sept. 22, 16 were killed and 70 were wounded in 15 vehicles mishaps.

On the eve of Eid al-Adha, Sept. 23, eight were killed in 13 crashes and 71 were wounded. On Sept. 24, the first official day of Eid al-Adha, eight people were killed in 12 crashes, while 58 more were wounded. On the second day, 28 were killed and 95 were wounded in 16 car crashes. On the third day as of 5 p.m., 10 were killed and 52 were wounded in 12 crashes.

Turkey has witnessed many deaths due to car accidents, especially during times of religious holidays, and this year’s Eid has been no different. 

Though the religious holiday is officially from Sept. 23 to Sept. 27, the government gave all state institutions the week off and also postponed the start of the school year by two weeks until Sept. 28.